[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 115 (Friday, June 16, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27678-27679]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-12538]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2017-0042]


Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an 
Information Collection; Export Certification: Accreditation of 
Nongovernment Facilities

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Revision to and extension of approval of an information 
collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's 
intention to request a revision to and extension of approval of an 
information collection associated with accrediting nongovernment 
facilities to perform services related to the export of plants or plant 
products.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
August 15, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2017-0042.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2017-0042, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
    Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may 
be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2017-
0042 or in our reading room, which is located in Room 1141 of the USDA 
South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, 
DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, 
please call (202) 799-7039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on accrediting 
nongovernment facilities to perform plant related export services, 
contact Dr. Robert Baca, Assistant Director, Permitting and Compliance 
Coordination, Compliance and Environmental Coordination Branch, PPQ, 
APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 150, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-2292. 
For copies of more detailed information on the information collection, 
contact Ms. Kimberly Hardy, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, 
at (301) 851-2483.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Export Certification: Accreditation of Nongovernment 
Facilities.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0130.
    Type of Request: Revision to and extension of approval of an 
information collection.
    Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), 
among other things, provides export certification services to assure 
other countries that the plants and plant products they are receiving 
from the United States are free of plant pests specified by the 
receiving country. This activity is authorized by the Plant Protection 
Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.).
    The export certification regulations, which are contained in 7 CFR 
part 353, describe the procedures for obtaining certification for 
plants and plant products offered for export or reexport. Our 
regulations do not require that we engage in export certification 
activities; however, we perform this work as a service to exporters who 
are shipping plants or plant products to countries that require 
phytosanitary certification as a condition of entry.
    After assessing the condition of the plants or plant products 
intended for export (i.e., after conducting a phytosanitary 
inspection), an inspector will issue an internationally recognized 
phytosanitary certificate, a phytosanitary certificate for reexport, or 
an export certificate for processed plant products. An important 
component of the certification process, when required, is laboratory 
testing of plant or plant product samples.
    The regulations allow nongovernment facilities (such as commercial 
laboratories and private inspection services) to be accredited by APHIS 
to perform specific laboratory testing or phytosanitary inspections 
that could serve as the basis for issuing Federal phytosanitary 
certificates, phytosanitary certificates for reexport, or export 
certificates for processed plant products. The accreditation process 
requires the use of several information collection activities to ensure 
that nongovernment facilities applying for accreditation possess the 
necessary qualifications.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities for an additional 3 
years.
    The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public 
(as well as affected agencies) concerning our information collection. 
These comments will help us:
    (1) Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used;
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, through use, as appropriate, of automated, 
electronic, mechanical, and other collection technologies; e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of responses.
    Estimate of burden: The public reporting burden for this collection 
of information is estimated to average 3.49 hours per response.
    Respondents: U.S. growers, shippers, exporters, and State and local 
plant health regulatory authorities.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 8.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 7.13.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 57.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 199 hours. (Due to 
averaging, the total annual burden hours may not equal the product of 
the annual number of responses multiplied by the reporting burden per 
response.)
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.


[[Page 27679]]


    Done in Washington, DC, on June 12, 2017.
Michael C. Gregoire,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-12538 Filed 6-15-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P